Highlanders 2026
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Jim and Hugh Renton retained as captains.
Bit bemused we haven't looked past Hugh Renton. Really locks in the loose trio we will likely run.
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@SouthernMann Yeah I'm not sold he's a starter. An absolute weapon in 2023 but he's missed most of the past two seasons due to injury and I think probably needs to string together some solid gametime before being handed captaincy.
Clealry JJ likes what he's seeing in Hugh. But I'd be eyeing up Groota as co captain.
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@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
If you’re going to have two captains, DeGroot and Fakatava make a lot sense than Renton and TT.
I can see the latter two playing a fair bit more minutes than EdG and FF. More likely to go 80, seems like "bigger voices" too.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
If you’re going to have two captains, DeGroot and Fakatava make a lot sense than Renton and TT.
I can see the latter two playing a fair bit more minutes than EdG and FF. More likely to go 80, seems like "bigger voices" too.
TT maybe, I’m just really not sure about Renton. I’d happy see DeGroot and TT as a pairing
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Team for this weeks game is out.
A few things worth noting
Choice of captains suggests to me that JJ must really like what he’s seeing in Will Stodart (we already know he really rates Jack Taylor).
Interesting that Stanley Solomon and Tai Crib are both playing the full eighty. JJ mentioned he liked what he was seeing from Stanley, so I’m wondering if that means Crib has impressed in the pre season.
Interesting to see Jonah Lowe at thirteen and Reesjan Pasetoa at 10. Seems to be a bit of a hint there in terms of where they may play some minutes this season. Same with Josh Whaanga on the wing which is a bit of a surprise at this level.
Good to see Hervey, Tengblad, Casey, Wingham, Shearer and Grindlay getting a run from the WTG. Though you’d have to imagine Shearer has been promoted to main squad now.
Only other thing I’d read into is it looks like Soanne Vikenna gets 40mins, and Jack Taylor 20 & Henry Bell 20. I’m sure this is just managing Jack from All Blacks XV but could be a glimpse of pecking order when it comes to Bell and Vikenna
No Ma’au, Dunshea, Big Jim, Jake Te Hiwi, Hugh Renton so assuming they’re all still coming back from injuries. De Groot & Fabian still just back from All Blacks, and JRK & Withy All Blacks XV.
Nareki, Knewstubb & DLB interesting omissions
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The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
Article behind a paywall but surely that has got to be a joke
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@Trig said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
Article behind a paywall but surely that has got to be a joke
Good Welly, Otago, Highlanders boy. Right up JJ's street
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@Trig said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
Article behind a paywall but surely that has got to be a joke
No joke. He's down there training.
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Pasitoa being viewed as 10/midfield cover off the bench, which would allow them to have a wing/fullback on the bench.
I think Cribb and Solomon getting close to a full 80 would suggest they aren't viewed as in the frame for R1, and are unlikely to see big minutes next week.
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The Team of those not playing
- de Groot
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- Ma'u
- Dunshea
- Holland
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- Withy
- Renton
- Fakatava
- Knewstubb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Te Hiwi
- Hurley
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Obviously a couple of injuries in there, which we will know more about next week, but my take on it, would be that some of these guys if required might get more than 40 minutes next week.
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hold up....wasn't Jonah lowe out of contract?....have we re signed him?
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Pasitoa being viewed as 10/midfield cover off the bench, which would allow them to have a wing/fullback on the bench.
I think Cribb and Solomon getting close to a full 80 would suggest they aren't viewed as in the frame for R1, and are unlikely to see big minutes next week.
Agree about Cribb. Not on Solomon. I think they will be eyeing him up to play the role planned for Hurley prior to his injury as a 30 minute man covering fullback/wing.
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The other side of it, is they might look at Lennox on the wing. If they are comfortable with the cover he provides, if they go with Pasitoa and Lennox, they could probably quite comfortably get away with a 6-2 split, which would allow us to have a pretty powerful bench.
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@frugby that would be my sense.
Assuming Holland, Lavinini, Howden, Withy & Renton are our starters. You've got Dunshea, Haig, Stodart, Lasanga, Broughton and Casey fighting it out for two spots. Adding in a six two split this season would be a wise move even with an eye to the future. Remember Stodart, Haig, Renton, Broughton and Dushea are all off contract end of this season. While you'd assume Lavinini is just here for a season. You want to keep as many of them as possible for squad depth. Helping Stodart and Haig getting regular minutes off the bench probably helps keep them in the frame.
We don't want to loose Dunshea & Lavininini next season and then Haig to another franchie.
